Ginamit ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ang kanyang executive prerogative upang i-phase out ang Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), isang desisyon na kinikilala ni Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda bilang isang makabuluhang ngunit kinakailangang hakbang.
“PBBM exercised a prerogative that is well within the scope of his powers over PAGCOR,” aniya na tinutukoy ang Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.. “And frankly, this phase-out is best undertaken during the capable leadership of Chairman Al Tengco than under any other person. PBBM’s instructions to PAGCOR is now the settled policy of this administration.”
Ngunit ipinaalala ni Salceda na ang phase-out ng mga POGO ay inaasahang magkakaroon ng malaking epekto sa ekonomiya.
“There will be impacts – and the most obvious is on revenue. If the ban affects the entire internet gaming license regime, which is a very broad category that includes the online operations of our very large domestic players, then that is at least P43 billion in revenue that we have to make up for. If it will only affect offshore gaming, then that’s around P14 billion,” paliwanag niya.
Ipinahayag din ng mambabatas ang kanyang kahandaang maghanap ng mga alternatibong pagkukunan ng kita sa pakikipagtulungan ni Finance Secretary Ralph Recto sa ilalim ng direktiba ni Marcos.
Binigyang-diin din ni Salceda ang mga implikasyon sa mga trabaho, at binanggit na 27,000 Pilipinong direktang nagtatrabaho sa mga POGO ang maaapektuhan.
“I appreciate President Marcos’s instructions to DOLE to that effect. Many of these workers have already acquired foreign language skills. Those skills are best certified and developed alongside other employable skills,” aniya.
Inaasahang mararamdaman din ng real estate sector ang epekto, ngunit ipinunto ni Salceda ang isang potensyal na solusyon.
“A widespread rental subsidy program will largely mitigate that. As I have repeatedly emphasized, reclamation is the largest source of potential revenues for that purpose, and in fact 50% of government income from reclamation is, by law, earmarked for housing.”
Sa usapin ng hinaharap ng PAGCOR, iminungkahi niya na maaaring maantala ang pagsasapribado nito.
“Definitely, PAGCOR privatization might have to be put on hold for now, because obviously PAGCOR’s role as a regulator at the moment matters above all.”
Nagpahayag naman ng tiwala si Salceda sa pamumuno ni PAGCOR Chairman Al Tengco.
“I think President Marcos was confident about giving this instruction because the best man for the job is Al Tengco. I’m confident Chairman Tengco can manage a systematic, orderly, and fair transition.”
Photo credit: Office of Rep. Joey Salceda